ARJEN ROBBEN

Arjen Robben (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrjən ˈrɔbə(n)] (About this sound listen); born 23 January 1984) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for German club Bayern Munich. He usually plays as a left or right sided winger, known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shots from the right wing. He is famed for his distinctive style of cutting inside from the right onto his left foot to score some quite spectacular goals. In 2014, he was named to the FIFPro World XI and the UEFA Team of the Year, and fourth place in the Ballon d'Or.

Groningen placed Robben in their first team for the 1999–2000 season. Robben was named player of the year for his first season with the club, and was transferred to PSV for €3.9 million before the 2002–03 season. During his first season for PSV, the 2002–03 season, Robben played 33 matches and scored 12 goals.[12] He was named "PSV co-player of the year" along with striker Mateja Kežman, with whom he formed an attacking partnership still fondly referred to by PSV fans as "Batman and Robben". He helped lead PSV to their 17th Dutch title. PSV could not keep up with rival Ajax and were forced into a fight for second place in the Eredivisie. Robben then transferred to Chelsea for the 2004-05 season. Robben proved to be a crucial player for the 2004–05 season; in November 2004, he was awarded the FA Premier League Player of the Month award.[5][6] Robben ended the 2004–05 season with seven goals. Robben was badly injured in a Premier League match away to Blackburn Rovers and forced to sit out Chelsea's title run-in and progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Back to fitness for 2005–06, Robben was an integral part of the Chelsea left wing. In 28 matches, Robben contributed six goals as Chelsea won a second consecutive Premier League championship. Robben was once again plagued with injury during the 2006-07 season. He came on as a substitute for Claude Makélélé in the 2007 League Cup final against Arsenal and set up the winning goal for Didier Drogba. He then featured against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg which went to penalties. Robben went on to have his penalty saved by Pepe Reina, and Chelsea ultimately lost. His final appearance for the club came against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final. Robben replaced Joe Cole at half-time, but was then substituted himself for Ashley Cole in extra time as Chelsea emerged victorious. He then left for Real Madrid.

Robben proved crucial for many Real Madrid matches, making his famous runs down the left wing and quickly became a first choice for the left midfield position, making 28 appearances during his debut season and scoring five goals. Real Madrid won the Liga title with multiple games to spare, and were already the champions of Spain when they played their arch-rivals Barcelona on 7 May 2008. Robben retained his key role in the Real Madrid midfield during the 2008–09 season, playing 35 times and scoring 8 goals but due to arrival of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo was controversially sold to Bayern Munich. He proved to be an instant hit in Germany, driving Bayern into the final of the Champions League with highlights including stunning volley against Manchester United in the quarters. They eventually lost to Inter Milan 2-0 in the final, but Robben nevertheless won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern and the DFB-Pokal a week later. Robben was named Footballer of the Year in Germany for 2010. The 2010–11 season was disastrous for Robben, after medical tests confirmed that his hamstring had not properly healed and that he would be out for two months - Bayern were trophyless for that season. Another trophyless final followed, with Bayern finishing second in Bundesliga, runners up in DFB-Pokal and with Robben missing a crucial penalty, runners up in the Champions League Final (against his old team Chelsea). Robben had initially played through the 2012-13 season as a substitute, but once he won a place back in the side he proved instrumental in taking Bayern once again to a Champions League Final, where he scored the winning goal and ensuring they won the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga. Bayern became the first German club to achieve the Treble. Whilst this proved to be the apex of Robben's club career, he went on to win 4 more Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal and DFL-Super cup. On 11 May 2018, Robben signed a one-year contract; extending his stay until the end of the 2018–19 season.

In April 2003, he made his Netherlands international debut in a friendly match against Portugal at age 19. Robben's first participation at an international tournament came at UEFA Euro 2004, where he caught the eye with a series of dazzling displays as the Dutch reached the semi-finals. They lost 2-1 to hosts Portugal, but a national star was born. At the 2006 World Cup, Portugal once again proved to be their nemesis as they fell at the round of 16 stage. Robben once again excelled, earning two MOTM awards in 4 games. During Euro 2008, new Dutch manager Marco van Basten changed the side's formation to 4–2–3–1, preferring the midfield trio of Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt, with Robben left to battle for a position with Robin van Persie on the wing. Despite Robben making a series of thrilling interventions off the bench, he was not used for the quarter-final match against Russia who won 3-1 (AET). Despite suffering an injury prior to the 2010 World Cup, Robben returned to wreak havoc with a number of match-winning displays in conjunction with Wesley Sneijeder, taking the Netherlands to their first World Cup final since 1974. Robben had Netherlands's best opportunity of the final against Spain when played in on goal by Wesley Sneijder in the 62nd minute of the match, but was denied by Iker Casillas. In Euro 2012, the Netherlands were dismal and knocked out after three straight defeats in the group stage. In the Netherlands' first match of the 2014 World Cup, Robben scored two goals in a 5–1 win over Spain. He went on to win the bronze ball, proving to be a pivotal figure as the Dutch reached the semi finals - where they lost to Argentina on penalties. On 10 October 2017, Robben retired from international football after the team's unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.